Nepal ex-prince arrested for drugs in Thailand

BANGKOK - Former Nepalese crown prince Paras Shah has been arrested on drugs charges in Thailand for a second time and could face up to five years in prison, police said Wednesday.

Shah was detained with about 13 grams (0.5 ounces) of marijuana at a hotel in Bangkok, according to an officer at Thonglor police station who did not want to be named.

"He borrowed a flash drive from hotel security and when the security guard entered his room to get his flash drive back he saw marijuana on the counter so he told police," the officer told AFP.

He said Shah, who is visiting Thailand on a tourist visa, had admitted illegal drug possession and was remanded in custody.

It is not the first time the former royal has been in trouble with the law in Thailand.

Shah, who as crown prince was unpopular for his playboy lifestyle, was arrested for possession of about three grams of marijuana on the island of Phuket in October 2012.

He was detained again later the same year for smashing property at a luxury apartment in Bangkok.

In February 2013 Shah was admitted to intensive care in Thailand after suffering a heart attack.

Shah became heir to the throne in 2001 after his cousin Crown Prince Dipendra killed nine members of his family including the king and queen in a drink-and-drugs-fuelled rampage, before apparently turning his gun on himself.

Nepal abolished its monarchy in 2008.

The Nepalese embassy in Bangkok said it had been notified of Shah's latest arrest.